A uniformly expandable air filter

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to air filters. More particularly, it relates to air filters including pleated filter media that can be uniformly expanded and contracted. In some embodiments, the air filters are adjustably sized air filter systems. In some embodiments, the air filters can be used in a window opening.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to air filters. More particularly, itrelates to air filters including pleated filter media that can beuniformly expanded and contracted. In some embodiments, the air filtersare adjustably sized air filter systems. In some embodiments, the airfilters can be used in a window opening.

BACKGROUND

Air pollution generally relates to the introduction of matter,biological molecules, and/or other harmful materials into Earth'satmosphere. Air pollution is increasing globally. Human sensitivity toair pollution is also increasing. According to the 2014 World HealthOrganization report, air pollution in 2012 caused the deaths of around 7million people worldwide. “7 Million Premature Deaths Annually Linked toAir Pollution,” World Health Organization, 25 Mar. 2014 (available athttp://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2014/air-pollution/en/).Reducing air pollution could save millions of lives annually.

Occupants of a building structure often open their windows to let freshair into an interior of a home, business, or otherwise enclosed space.However, in many locations, such as highly populated areas of China orIndia, the outside air includes high levels of air pollutants. Novelfiltering solutions are needed to remove the pollution or contaminantsfrom the air before bringing it indoors. Outdoor contaminants mayinclude large particles such as, for example, pollen, dust, and moldspores as well as smaller particles such as, for example, PM_(2.5),bacteria, and viruses. Gaseous outdoor pollutants such as, for example,odors, NO_(x), SO₂, ozone, and others may also be of concern in somelocations.

Some of the developments in furnace air filtration relate to making airfiltration apparatuses that are expandable to fit various air ductsizes. One exemplary patent describing such air filtration devices isU.S. Pat. No. 7,037,354.

SUMMARY

The inventors of the present disclosure recognized that one disadvantageof the furnace air filters that are expandable to fit various airfurnace ducts is that they do not expand uniformly. Where pleated andconnected at the pleats, the connection is typically effected bynon-elastic pleat-supporting materials such as, for example, metal meshor plastic netting. As a result, the expansion amount differssignificantly between adjacent pleats and/or in differing areas on thefilter media. Additionally or alternatively, the above-mentionedexpandable furnace filter media does not collapse uniformly. When thefilter media is collapsed, the media flattens. The non-uniformity in thefilter media and flattening of the filter media can result in decreasedperformance. Some exemplary types of decreased performance include, forexample, decreased air flow, increased air pressure, and/or decreasedair filtration/pollutant capture.

Given the above disadvantages, the inventors of the present disclosurealso recognized a need for air filters that are uniformly expandable.

The inventors also recognized a need for air filters that are uniformlyexpandable for use in a window air filter or an HVAC filter.

At least some air filters of the present disclosure help protects usersfrom outside air quality contaminants, are easily and uniformlyexpandable, allow fresh air get into the home or office through windows,can be easily installed and used by consumers, are versatile to fit mostwindow sizes, and/or have minimal impact on lighting and visibility. Theinventors of the present disclosure invented and discovered apparatusesand methods that address at least some of these goals. The inventors ofthe present disclosure invented various embodiments of air filters,methods of making air filters, and methods of using air filters.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an air filter,comprising: a filter media assembly that is expandable from a collapsedstate to an expanded state and that includes pleated filter media havinga plurality of pleats; and an expandable element connecting at leastsome of the plurality of pleats; wherein the filter media assemblyexpands from the collapsed state to the expanded state substantiallyuniformly.

In some embodiments, the air filter includes multiple expandableelements. In some embodiments, the expandable element is at least one ofan elastic thread, an elastic filament, an elastic strip, an extrudedelastic filament, and/or an elastic netting. In some embodiments, theexpandable element is connected to at least one of all of the pleat tipsof the filter media, a majority of the pleat tips of the filter media,some of the pleat tips of the filter media, adjacent pleat tips,alternating pleat tips. In some embodiments, more than one expandableelement is connected to a single pleat tip. In some embodiments, theexpandable elements are attached to at least one of the bottom pleattips, the top pleat tips, and/or the top and bottom pleat tips.

In some embodiments, the filter media is at least one ofmoisture-resistant, moisture-repellant, electrostatically charged, anelectret nonwoven web, and/or not electrostatically charged. In someembodiments, the filter media includes at least one of carbon, activatedcarbon, a nonwoven, a thermoplastic, a thermosetting material, a porousfoam, fiberglass, paper, a high loft spunbound web, a low loft spunboundweb, a meltblown web, and/or bi-modal fiber diameter meltblown media. Insome embodiments, the filter media is at least one of self-supportingand non-self-supporting. In some embodiments, the air filter is at leastone of a window air filter or an HVAC filter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view an exemplary pleated filter media assemblyof the type generally described herein in an expanded condition.

FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the pleated filter media assemblyof FIG. 4A, taken along the line 1B-1B.

FIG. 1C is a side view of a portion of the pleated filter media assemblyof FIG. 1A in a collapsed condition.

FIGS. 2A-2C are cross-sectional views of various embodiments of pleatedfilter media or assemblies of the type generally described herein.

FIGS. 3A-3B are perspective views of an exemplary air filter of the typegenerally described herein for use in a vertically opening window.

FIGS. 4A-4B are perspective views of an exemplary air filter of the typegenerally described herein installed in a horizontally opening window.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments and implementations will be described in detail.These embodiments should not be construed as limiting the scope of thepresent application in any manner, and changes and modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments andimplementations. For example, many of the embodiments, implementations,and examples are discussed with specific reference to window airfilters, but these should not be construed to limit the applicationscope to this one exemplary implementation. Further, only some end useshave been discussed herein, but end uses not specifically describedherein are included within the scope of the present application. Assuch, the scope of the present application should be determined by theclaims.

One embodiment of a filter media assembly 30 is shown in FIGS. 1Athrough 1C. The filter media 32 of the filter media assembly 30 ispleated and includes a plurality of pleats 70 each including a fold line72 defining a pleat tip 74 and a pair of adjacent panels 76. As usedherein, the term “pleated” refers to filter media at least a portion ofwhich has been folded to form a configuration comprising rows ofgenerally parallel, oppositely oriented folds. Each fold is referred toas a pleat. Pleats can be formed in the filter media 32 (or in thepleated filter media assembly 30) using various methods and componentsas are well known in the art (e.g., those described in U.S. Pat. No.6,740,137 to Kubokawa et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,622,063 to Sundet et al.,and U.S. Patent Application No. 62/073,067, the entire teachings of eachof which are incorporated herein by reference). The pleated filter mediaof the present disclosure can have any desired pleat spacing, size,pattern, or structure.

The pleated filter media assembly 30 also includes one or moreexpandable elements 80 connected, attached, adhered, bonded, etc. to atleast some of the tips 74 of the pleats 70. The expandable elements 80can be, for example, elastic threads, elastic filaments (e.g. Spandex),extruded elastic filaments, and/or an elastic netting (such as isavailable from Conwed) elastic strips, and/or extruded elastic strips.The expandable elements 80 can be connected to all of the pleats, someof the pleats, adjacent pleats, alternating pleats, etc. One or moreexpandable elements can be attached to a single pleat. In someembodiments, the expandable elements are attached to the pleat tips. Insome embodiments, the expandable elements are attached to the bottompleat tips, the top pleat tips, and/or the top and bottom pleat tips.The expandable element(s) 80 permit the filter media assembly 30 toexpands from the collapsed state to the expanded state uniformly. Asused herein with respect to filter media assembly 30 or filter media 32expansion, the term “uniformly” refers to the filter media 32 or filtermedia assembly 32 maintaining a substantially constant distance ratiobetween nearby or adjacent pleat tips across the length or width of thepleated filter media or filter media assembly.

For purposes of clarity, the collapsed state, as used herein, does notrequire the pleats to be at a maximally compressed configuration, rathera collapsed state represents a pleat spacing which is less than thefully extended state. As such, a fully collapsed state is where thepleats are maximally compressed. In a fully collapsed state, theexpandable element may be lax and the initial filter media or filtermedia assembly expansion may be non-uniform until the expandable elementis no longer lax. Such instances are meant to fall within in the scopeof the term “uniform” or “uniformly” as used herein with respect tofilter media expansion.

In some embodiments, an inelastic element may be attached to the faceopposite the face with the expandable elements. When the filter media orfilter media assembly is expanded or is in an expanded position, theinelastic element can provide a “dead stop” at a maximum expansionposition.

The expandable element(s) 80 can be connected, attached, adhered, bondedto the pleat tips 80 by any known or desired method. Some exemplaryattachment methods include, for example, extrusion of one or moreexpandable elements directly or indirectly onto the pleat tips,attachment of pre-formed expandable materials through thermal bonding,chemical bonding, ultrasonic bonding, pressure bonding, use of adhesives(including, for example, hot melt adhesives), etc. The expandableelement(s) may be attached under a variety of conditions, includingconditions where the expandable or elastic elements are under zero orvery little extension to where the expandable or elastic elements areattached to the pleats tips while under considerable extension.

In some embodiments, the expandable element(s) is/are applied under lowto zero extension. In some embodiments, the expandable element(s) is/areapplied when the filter assembly or filter media is at 10% of maximumexpansion or less. In some embodiments, the expandable element(s) is/areapplied under high or considerable extension. In some embodiments, theexpandable element(s) is/are applied when the filter assembly or filtermedia is at 30% of maximum expansion or more.

The pleated filter media assemblies of the present disclosure can haveany desired shape, including, for example, the quadrilateral orrectangular shape (the term “rectangular” being specifically inclusiveof a square shape) shown, defining opposing sides 34 a, 34 b andopposing ends 35 a, 35 b.

In some embodiments, the filter media assembly 30 can at least betransitioned from the collapsed condition to the expanded conditionwithout damaging a structural integrity of the filter media assembly 30.In some embodiments, the filter media assembly 30 can be repeatedlytransitioned between the collapsed and expanded conditions withoutdamaging a structural integrity of the filter media assembly 30.

The pleated filter media assemblies of the present disclosure canconsist of the filter media or web 32 alone or can include one or moreadditional components or structures applied or assembled to the filtermedia 32.

The pleated filter media 32 of the assembly 30 can be self-supporting ornon-self-supporting. As used herein, the term “self-supporting filtermedia or web” can describe at least one of the following conditions: (1)a filter media or web that is deformation resistant without requiringstiffening layers, adhesive or other reinforcement in the filter mediaweb; or (2) the filter media generally maintains its shape whensubjected to an airstream as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No.7,169,202 to Kubokawa, the entire teachings of which are incorporatedherein by reference; or (3) a web or media having sufficient coherencyand strength so as to be drapable and handleable without substantialtearing or rupture. As used herein, the term “non-self-supporting”describes an air filter media that is not capable, in the absence of asupport frame and/or a support grill, of withstanding the forcesencountered due to typical air flow.

In some embodiments, where the pleated filter media assembly 30 consistsof the pleated filter media 32 alone, the pleated filter media or web 32can be self-supporting or non-self-supporting. In some embodiments,where the pleated filter media assembly 30 consists of the pleatedfilter media or web 32 and a support structure, the pleated filter media32 can be non-self-supporting with the addition supporting structurerendering the pleated filter media assembly 30, as a whole, to beself-supporting. In some embodiments, the pleated filter media 32 iswire-backed.

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate various examples of pleated filter media that canbe employed with the adjustable air filter 20. In some embodiments, thepleated filter media is uniformly expandable. In some embodiments, thepleated filter media is uniformly expandable in at least one directioncorresponding to a major axis. FIG. 2A illustrates an exemplaryembodiment in which the expandable element 80 is attached to adjacent“bottom” pleat tips. FIG. 2B illustrates an exemplary embodiment inwhich the expandable element 80 is attached to adjacent “top” pleattips. FIG. 2CB illustrates an exemplary embodiment in which theexpandable element 80 is attached to adjacent “top” and “bottom” pleattips.

In some embodiments, the expandable element(s) attached to the pleattips may have different properties in the two major axis directions. Forexample, strands, filaments, or strips will provide elastic propertiesin only a single direction. A netting may provide elasticity in one ormore axial directions. In some embodiments, the properties of a nettingmay vary in the two axial directions, and the cross-direction may beinelastic while the primary axis may be elastic.

The particular filter media 32 selected for the filter media assembly 30can be particularly suited have any of the particular desiredcharacteristics known or described herein. In some embodiments, thefilter media assembly 30 is constructed from moisture-resistantmaterials. In some embodiments, the filter media may include additionallayers or features to specifically block or repel water, such as rain.

In some embodiments, an electrostatic charge is optionally imparted intoor onto material(s) of the filter media 32. In some embodiments, anelectrostatically charged media 32 may be used, of which many grades areavailable, and many of which offer high efficiency with low pressuredrop. By incorporating an extended surface area and by covering moderateportion of the window, in combination with using a low pressure drop webenabled by the electrostatic charging, a reasonably low pressure dropcan be achieved for the filter, which may help provide moderate airflowthrough the filter. In some embodiments, the filter media 32 can be anelectret nonwoven web. Electric charge can be imparted to the filtermedia 32 in a variety of ways as is well known in the art, for exampleby hydrocharging, corona charging, etc. (e.g., as described in U.S. Pat.No. 7,947,142, the entirety of which is incorporated by referenceherein).

In other embodiments, the filter media 32 is not electrostaticallycharged. In some embodiments, additional multi-functional media grades,which incorporate activated carbon or other materials for purifyinggas-phase pollutants, may also or alternatively be incorporated into thefilter structure. In some embodiments, the filter media 32 can beconstructed, for example, from nonwoven fibrous media formed ofthermoplastics or thermosetting materials such as polypropylene, linearpolyethylene and polyvinyl chloride. Other suitable, non-limitingmaterials for the filter media include porous foams, nonwovens, papers,fiberglass, or the like. In some embodiments, the filter media 32comprises a filter media that attracts and captures dust, allergens(such as pollen and mold spores), and/or fine particle pollution fromthe outdoor air.

Nonwoven webs useful with the filter media 32 can be a high loftspunbond webs, such as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No.8,162,153 to Fox et al., the entirety of which is incorporated herein.In other embodiments, the filter media 32 can be a low loft spunbondweb, such as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,947,142 to Fox et al., theentirety of which is incorporated herein. In yet other embodiments,nonwoven webs useful with the filter media 32 are generated by othertechniques and/or have other characteristics, such as the meltblownnonwoven webs disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,858,297 to Shah et al., theentirety of which is incorporated herein. Other non-limiting example ofuseful nonwoven web formats include bi-modal fiber diameter meltblownmedia such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,858,163, the entiretyof which is incorporated herein.

In some embodiments, the filter media 32 is an electrostatically chargednonwoven type of media. In some embodiments, the filter media 32 can bea pleated filter media including at least a portion that has been foldedto form a configuration comprising rows of generally parallel,oppositely oriented folds. In some embodiments, pleats can be formed inthe filter media 32 (or in the pleated filter media assembly 30) usingvarious methods and components as are well known in the art, e.g., toform a pleated filter for use in applications such as air filtration.,for example those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,740,137 to Kubokawa etal. and U.S. Pat. No. 7,622,063 to Sundet et al., the entire teachingsof both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

In some embodiments, the expandable and collapsible air filters areuseful in protecting users from air quality contaminants.

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate aspects of the materials and construction of anexemplary retractable filter 120 installed in a sliding-type window 180,which can be either single or double hung. Sliding windows arepredominant in North America and China. Attachment of the retractablefilter 120 to a window 180 may be either permanent or semi-permanent. Insome embodiments, an attachment mechanism provides secure holding of theretractable filter 120 to the window 180 because the attachment pointmay undergo moderate stress from the inner spring forces as the filtermedia assembly is extended and retracted. Some exemplary permanentfixation options include nails, screws, and certain types of adhesives.In some embodiments, the attachment is semi-permanent, such as usingCommand™ strips, adhesively backed interlocking hooks, rare earthmagnets, etc. When expanded, the side edges of the filter media assembly130 can be attached to the window frame/sill members with mechanical oradhesive components. In some embodiments, the expandable filter framealso contains means for locking the expandable frame in position due tothe same contraction forces.

Finally, similar to the vertical sliding window 180 of FIGS. 3A-3Cdiscussed above, FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate an exemplary collapsible andexpandable air filter 220 installed in a horizontal sliding window 280.In some embodiments, the retractable filter 220 is attached at one endof the window 280, the window 280 is partially opened, and the filtermedia assembly 230 is expanded to cover the window gap. A small gap maybe created between the two window segments, allowing air to flow fromthe outside between the two window segments and bypassing the filtermedia assembly 230 to gain entry to the indoors. In some embodiments,this bypass may be avoided by the use of a piece of foam,weather-stripping, etc. (not shown).

The air filters of the present disclosure can be placed in any desiredframe or housing. Some exemplary frames are described in, for example,U.S. Patent Application Nos. 62/041,496 and 62/041,499, both of whichare incorporated in their entirety herein. The air filter assembly ofthe present disclosure can be used in a powered air filtration systemsuch as, for example, that described in U.S. Patent Application No.62/041,501, incorporated herein in its entirety. The air filter mediacan come in roll form, such as, for example, that described in U.S.Patent Application No. 62/041,500, the entirety of which is incorporatedherein.

The air filters described herein can be used in any desired applicationincluding, but not limited to, windows or HVAC systems.

The terms first, second, third and the like in the description and inthe claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and notnecessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order. It is tobe understood that the terms so used are interchangeable underappropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the inventiondescribed herein are capable of operation in other sequences thandescribed or illustrated herein.

All references mentioned herein are incorporated in their entirety.

Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in thedescription and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and notnecessarily for describing relative positions. It is to be understoodthat the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriatecircumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described hereinare capable of operation in other orientations than described orillustrated herein.

The recitation of all numerical ranges by endpoint is meant to includeall numbers subsumed within the range (i.e., the range 1 to 10 includes,for example, 1, 1.5, 3.33, and 10).

Those having skill in the art will appreciate that many changes may bemade to the details of the above-described embodiments andimplementations without departing from the underlying principlesthereof. Further, various modifications and alterations of the presentinvention will become apparent to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of thepresent application should, therefore, be determined only by thefollowing claims and equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. An air filter, comprising: a filter mediaassembly that is expandable from a collapsed state to an expanded stateand that includes pleated filter media having a plurality of pleats; andan expandable element connecting at least some of the plurality ofpleats; wherein the filter media assembly expands from the collapsedstate to the expanded state substantially uniformly.
 2. The air filterof claim 1, comprising multiple expandable elements.
 3. The air filterof any of the preceding claims, wherein the expandable element is atleast one of an elastic thread, an elastic filament, an elastic strip,an extruded elastic filament, and/or an elastic netting.
 4. The airfilter of any of the preceding claims, wherein the expandable element isconnected to at least one of all of the pleat tips of the filter media,a majority of the pleat tips of the filter media, some of the pleat tipsof the filter media, adjacent pleat tips, alternating pleat tips.
 5. Theair filter of any of the preceding claims, wherein more than oneexpandable element is connected to a single pleat tip.
 6. The air filterof any of the preceding claims, wherein the expandable elements areattached to at least one of the bottom pleat tips, the top pleat tips,and/or the top and bottom pleat tips.
 7. The air filter of any of thepreceding claims, wherein the filter media is at least one ofmoisture-resistant, moisture-repellant, electrostatically charged, anelectret nonwoven web, and/or not electrostatically charged.
 8. The airfilter of any of the preceding claims, wherein the filter media includesat least one of carbon, activated carbon, a nonwoven, a thermoplastic, athermosetting material, a porous foam, fiberglass, paper, a high loftspunbound web, a low loft spunbound web, a meltblown web, and/orbi-modal fiber diameter meltblown media.
 9. The air filter of any of thepreceding claims, wherein the filter media is at least one ofself-supporting and non-self-supporting.
 10. The air filter of any ofthe preceding claims, wherein the air filter is at least one of a windowair filter or an HVAC filter.